Road roller wheel wobbling structure



Dec. 16, 1947. J. R. RITCHIE ROAD ROLLER WHEEL WOBBLING STRUCTURE FiledNov. 13, 1944 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Invento JOHNR-RITCHIE Attor-nzg.

Dec. 16, 1947. J. R. RITQHIE ROAD ROLLER WHEEL WOBBLING STRUCTURE FiledNov. 15, 1944 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Inven'bor- 1 Joan R. Rn-c HIE Attorney.

Dec. 1 1947. J. RITCHIE I 432,683

ROAD ROLLER WHEEL WOBBLING STRUCTURE Fil ed Nov. is, 1944 a Sheets-Sheeta I? J24: 49 I JoHN RRnTcme fitter-r12 5 Patented Dec. 16, 1947 UNITEDSTATES PATENT OFFICE ROAD ROLLER WHEEL WOBBLING STRUCTURE 12 Claims.

This invention relates to a roller for compacting roads and rolling thesurfaces of roads and while the invention could be applied to varioustypes of road rollers it is designed particularly for'use with a rollerhaving series of wheels arranged side by side and preferably equippedwith pneumatic tires.

Road rollers having one or more series of wheels equipped with pneumatictires have been found to be very successful and efficient in compactingroads and in finishing road surfaces. In practice it has been founddesirable to have some means for oscillating or wobbling the wheels sothat they do not run in a straight line. With such a structure theformation of rectilinear ruts or tracks is avoided and a more uniformsurface is secured.

It is an object of this invention to provide a novel, simple andefficient means for oscillating or wobbling the Wheels of a road rolleras it is pulled orpropelled along the road.

It is a further object of the invention to provide a road roller havinga frame member, an axle mounted in said frame member, a plurality ofwheels carried on said frame member and means for moving said framemember from side to side about a vertical axis for oscillating saidwheels.

It is another object of the invention to provide a road rollercomprising a frame member, an axle mounted in said frame member, aplurality of wheels carried on said axle, a draw bar adapted to-beattached at its front end to a tractor, means connecting said framemember and draw bar and means operated as said road roller is progressedon said wheels for swinging said draw bar and member laterally tooscillate said Wheels.

It is also an object of the invention to provide such a road roller asset forth in the preceding paragraph in which one or more cams areprovided rotatable about the axis of said axle and engaging a memberadjacent the rear end of said draw bar for moving, the same and saidmember.

It is more specifically an object of the invention to provide a roadroller comprising a frame member having a forwardly projecting portion,an axle mounted in said member, a plurality of wheels carried on saidaxle, a draw bar adapted to be swingingly connected at its front end toa tractor, means connecting said portion and draw bar for relativemovement about a vertical axis, a cam roller carried adjacent the rearend of said draw bar and cams on adjacent wheels disposed respectivelyat either side of said cam roller for moving the same and said draw barfrom side to side and oscillating said member and wheels.

These and other objects and advantages of the invention will be fullyset forth in the following description made in connection with theaccompanying drawings in which like reference characters refer tosimilar parts throughout the several views and in which:

Fig. 1 is a horizontal section taken substantially on line l--! of Fig.4 and showing a large portion of the road roller in plan;

Fig, 2 is, a plan view of a portion of' the road roller, certain partsbeing broken away and others shown in horizontal section takensubstantially on line 22 of Fig. 4;

Fig. 3 is a partial plan view showing the mounting of a cam roller used;

Fig. 4 is a view mostly in vertical section on lines 44 of Fig. 1; a.portion being shOWn in side elevation;

Fig. 5 is a partial view partly in side elevation and partly in verticalsection taken on line 4-4 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 6 is a partial plan view of the device, a part being shown inhorizontal section taken substantially on line 6-6 of Fig. 4; and

Fig. 7 is a view in rear elevation of a portion of the road roller, aportion of said view being shown in vertical section taken on line 1'lof Fig. 1.

Referring'to the drawings a road roller'is shown comprising a frammember ll]. While this member could be varied in form, in the embodimentof the invention illustrated it is shown as having a horizontal portionl'0a shown as of hollow box-like form substantially rectangular invertical cross section and as having downwardly extending end portionsHlb also substantially rec-- tangular in horizontal cross section and ofhollow box-like form. Members lOb have bifurcated lower ends throughwhich extend transversely pins H which also extend through thehorizontal hub portion 12a of axle supporting members [2 having hubportions lEb in which the axle I3 is carried. Member in also has acentral depending portion |0c similar to portions lflb, the same alsohaving pivoted thereto by one of the pins ll, another axle-carryingmember l2. Member I0 has forwardly extending portions [0d extending fromadjacent its ends at its front side to and being Welded to a hub Hie.Another portion llldd shown as in the form of a channel extendsforwardly and downwardly from member II] to and beyond hub We, the samebeing secured to hub Inc as by welding. A lower bar or plate IOaaextends forwardly below member Ifldd to and beyond hub IIle, the samebeing connected to member Iildd. Hub Ille has bushings I4 thereinadjacent its ends. A pin I6 is provided, extending through hub Ifie andbushings I4 and through a bar H which rests upon the top of hub Ille.Pin I6 is secured to bar I! in any suitable manner as by welding. Bar I!is rigidly bolted at its front end by the headed and nutted bolt I8 to adraw bar I9. Draw bar I9 is illustrated as in the form of a tube and hasa clevis 28 secured thereto by a headed and nutted bolt 2| passinglaterally through said draw bar. Clevis is movable about bolt 2|, andhas spaced sides extending along draw bar I9 and having curved orsegmental ends 20a provided with a plurality of openings 2% through anyalined pair of which a bolt 22 is adapted to pass, said bolt passingthrough draw bar I9. As shown in Fig. 1 clevis 20 is substantiallyU-shaped in plan. The forward or bight portion of clevis 20 passesthrough another clevis or Uhaped clip 24 having vertically spaced armsconnected by a pair of bolts or pins 25 to a horizontal member 26 shownas of angular form. Pins 25 are held in place by a pin 2'! extendinrespectively therethrough. Member 26 will form part of a tractor orpulling vehicle or may comprise part of a hitch attached to such atractor. Draw bar I9 has a hub lea secured therein through which pin I6passes and a pin 29 passes through hub I900 and pin I6. The forward endof portion Iildd is provided with a hole I81 aligned with a hole I90 indraw bar I9.

A shaft 30 is disposed in the rear end of draw bar I9 and securedtherein by a headed and nutted bolt 3|. Bolt 3! passes through an L-shaped or bayonet slot I92) formed in opposite sides of draw bar I9.Shaft 38 is provided with a collar 39a and has a reduced portion onwhich a cam roller 32 is journaled, said roller engaging collar 38a atone side and being engaged by a washer 33 at its other side, held inplace by a nut 34 threaded in shaft 353.

Member I8 is bored just above central portion I Do to receive the lowerend of a pin 36 which extends upwardly through a member 31 ofsemispherical shape, said member 31 having top and bottom flat portionsand a transverse openings 31a. extending horizontally therethrough atright angles to each other. A pin 35 extends through pin 36 into memberI8. A flanged collar 38 surrounds pin 35 just below member 31 and restsupon a bearing washer 38 engaging the top of member I8. Bearing casing4| has a semispherical top portion and an internal semispherical bearingsurface 4Ia which engages the top semi-spherical portion of member 31.Another bearing member or plate 42 has a semispherical surface engagingthe bottom semispherical portion of member 3?. Member 42 is secured tomember M by a plurality of circumferentially spaced headed and nuttedbolts 43. Member 4I which is in the form of a shell closed at its topand sides, has an outwardly extending flange 4Ib which is secured to thebottom of a horizontally and transversely extending frame member 44.Member AI is open at its bottom as clearly shown in Fig. 7. Frame member44 has a rearwardly extending portion 44a in which is formed a box orreceptacle 44b. The box or receptacle 4% is adapted to receive materialto weight the roller, which material may be water,

tends rearwardly and a rear axle and series of wheels carried thereon(not shown) are connected to the same.

A series of wheels 48 are carried on the axle I3, said Wheels beingspaced as shown in Figs. 1, 6 and 7. Cam members 49 are secured to thecentral wheels and while these cam members might be variously connectedto said wheels, in the embodiment of the invention illustrated they areshown as connected to the hubs 48a by headed rivets 59. Said cams havecam surfaces extending at an acute angle to the forwardly and rearwardlyextending center line of the machine as shown in Fig. 6. Cam roller 32is disposed between cams 49 at the front portions thereof.

' In operation the road roller will be drawn along on the road beingcompacted or surfaced, by movement of the tractor connected to member25. As the road roller is progressed wheels 48 revolve, thus rotatingcams 49. Cams 49 act upon cam roller 32, thus moving said roller fromside to side as it is engaged by the opposed cam surfaces of cam 49.Roller 32 being thus moved, swing draw bar I9 to which it is rigidlyconnected, said draw bar swinging about its front connection to member24. As the draw bar thus swings or moves from side to side it moves theforwardly extending port on Ifld of frame member ID from side to side.This lateral or swinging movement of member II] is accommodated by pinI'o. As member I8 is thus moved from side to side or oscillated, it inturn oscillates axle I3 and wheels 48. Wheels 48 are thus alternatelymoved to have their central planes extending at a slight angle to theforwardly and rearwardly extending center line of the machine as shownin Fig. 6. This gives a wobble motion to the wheels so that they make awavy track on the road as they move along on the road. The front andrear wheels are arranged so that the rear wheels are aligned with thespaces between the front wheels. The tracks made by the wheels will thusoverlap somewhat due to the oscillation of wheels 48.

If it is desired to operate the roller without the wobble wheel motion,bolt 3| can be loosened and moved into the forward portion of the slotI917 as shown in Fig. 3. This moves member 30 and cam roller 32forwardly and positions cam roller 32 out of engagement with cams 49.Bolt 3| can be tightened to hold cam roller 32 in such position. At thistime a headed and nutted bolt will be placed through the hole I81 andthrough the hole I90. This holds the forwardly extending portion Illd ofmember I9, and thus the member I0, rigid with draw bar I9 so that itcannot oscillate about pin I6. With the structure so arranged there willbe no swinging movement of member In and no oscillation of the wheels.

From the above description it will be seen that I have provided a verynovel, simple and efficient structure for giving the desired oscillationor wobble movement to the wheels of the road roller. The oscillation ofthe wheels is produced in the forward motion of the roller as it movesover the road, and by oscillating the wheel carrying portion of thedevice. The structure can easily be changed to eliminate the oscillationof the wheels if this is desired. It will be obvious that the devicewill have a high degree of utility for the purpose intended.

It will, of course, be understood that various changes may be made inthe form, details, arrangement and proportions of the parts, withoutdeparting from the scope of applicant's inventionlwhich generallystated, consists in a device capable of carrying out the objects aboveset forth, in the parts and combination of parts disv of road-rollingwheels, a member in which said wheels are mounted side by side, a drawbar adapted to be swingingly connected at its front end to a tractor, aconnection between said memher and draw bar, means operated by forwardmovement of said roller for swinging said draw bar about said front endto oscillate said member and wheels.

2. A road roller having in combination, an axle, a plurality ofroad-rolling wheels carried on said axle, a frame member in which saidaxle is mounted having a forwardly extending portion, a draw bar towhich said portion is pivoted for movement about a vertical axis, asecond member adjacent the inner end of said draw bar and means rotatedabout the axis of said axle engaging said second member to move saiddraw bar and said portion laterally and oscillate said wheels.

3. A road roller having in combination, an axle, a plurality ofroad-rolling wheels carried on said axle, a member in which said axle ismounted having a forwardly extending portion, a draw bar to which saidportion is connected, a cam roller journaled adjacent the rear end ofsaid draw bar, a cam rotatable about the axis of said axle engaging saidroller and acting to move said draw bar and portion laterally and thusoscillate said wheels.

4. The structure set forth in claim 3, said roller being movable toposition out of engagement with said cam and means for holding saidroller in such position.

5. A road roller having in combination, an axle, a plurality ofroad-rolling wheels carried on said axle, a member in which said axle ismounted, a draw bar connected to said member and arranged for lateralswinging movement, a pair of cams rotatable about the axis of said axleand a member on the end of said draw bar engaged by said cams for movingsaid draw bar from side to side and thus moving said member andoscillating said wheels.

6. A road roller having in combination, an axle, a plurality ofroad-rolling wheels journaled on said axle, a member in which said axleis mounted, a draw bar connected to said member, cams on adjacentwheels, a cam roller carried on the rear end of said draw bar anddisposed between said cams, said cams acting to move said cam roller anddraw bar laterally as said road roller is progressed and thus oscillatesaid wheels.

'7. A road roller having in combination, a frame member, an axle carriedin said member, a series of road-rolling wheels carried on said axle, adraw bar adapted to be swingingly connected at its front end to atractor means, a pivoted connection between said frame member and drawbar, a member on said draw bar and means 1'0- tatable about the axis ofsaid axle adapted to engage said last mentioned member for swinging saiddraw bar and frame member to oscillate said wheels.

8. The structure set forth in claim 7, said last mentioned meanscomprising cams on certain of said wheels, and a cam roller on said drawbar and disposed between said cams.

9. A road roller having in combination, a frame member, an axle carriedin said frame member, a series of road rolling wheels mounted on saidaxle, said frame being constructed and arranged for lateral swingingmovement, and means operated by rotation of certain of said wheels assaid roller progresses for swinging said frame member from side to sideabout a substantially vertical axis for oscillating said wheels.

10. A road roller having in combination, a. frame member, an axlecarried in said frame member, a series of road-rolling wheels mounted onsaid axle, said frame member being constructed and arranged for lateralswinging movement, and means for repeatedly and continuously swingingsaid frame member as said roller is progressed for oscillating saidwheels without changing the direction in which said roller is progressedso as to cause said wheels to make sinuous tracks, said last mentionedmeans comprising members rotatable about the axis of said axle.

11. A road roller adapted to be moved forwardly in a definite directionhaving in combination, a series of road-rolling wheels, an oscillatableframe in which said wheels are mounted side by side, a memberconstructed and arranged for swinging movement at one end, a connectionbetween said frame and member, and means operated by forward movement ofsaid roller for swinging said member about said front end foroscillating said frame and said wheels for causing said wheels to make asinuous path.

12. A road roller constructed and arranged to be moved forwardly in asubstantially rectilinear direction having in combination, a frame, anaxle mounted in said frame, a series of wheels carried on said axle withtheir planes substantially perpendicular to the axis of said axle, amember connected to said frame and constructed and arranged to be swunglaterally about an axis adjacent one end and means operated by forwardmovement of said roller for swinging said member about said axis toswing said frame from side to side to oscillate said wheels and causethe same to make sinuous paths.

JOHN R. RITCHIE.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,842,717 Doyle Jan. 26, 1932 72,226,182 Ross Dec. 24, 1940

